Try that Team Fortress 2 video on the first page. Just remember, don't turn on any virtual surround when watching those videos, as they are meant to be watched from a standard stereo output.
I had the 1st gen A40s, which sounded very hollow, and everything sounded like there was no weight. The treble was very harsh, bass was light (which doesn't bother me for a headset), and everything sounded a bit too echoey.
Whats coincidental is that you loved the Ax720... which pretty much falls with the same opinions I had on both. I preferred the Ax720 over the A40s, and thought they did a better job simulating surround vs the A40s which didn't do absolutely anything for me. So perhaps you are hearing what i did, though I didn't try those virtual surround tests back then, though I did play CoD4 multiplayer a lot, which is a great for demoing.
I wasn't kidding when I said I was very underwhelmed by the A40s. It wasn't until I got the Ad700 that my whole thought of the Mixamp and gaming with headphones truly clicked for me.

Okay, So i turned off my virtual surround sound on my computer..

Do i need to leave it off for games? or turn it on? cause i would think i would need to turn it on (on my pc) in order to get surround sound.

As for my xbox i still feel like they lack the whole virtual surround sound.

Im going to try the team fortress thing with my x11s and ill let you know what happens.

No, I meant to turn it off when you're listening to those videos I posted, that's all (the videos have already been processed, which is why you don't want to process them even further with your surround).

Of course you're meant to have it on when actually using them for games and the like.

edit: I don't know... perhaps it's your ears not translating it well with full sized headphones? The team fortress vid, make sure to jump at the time I mentioned, as that's when the surround processing kicks in.Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 6/10/12 at 4:34am

No, I meant to turn it off when you're listening to those videos I posted, that's all (the videos have already been processed, which is why you don't want to process them even further with your surround).
Of course you're meant to have it on when actually using them for games and the like.

Oh yes, specific games have their own built in headphone option, which is NOT what you want to use when using these virtual surround amps. You want to set those games to 'home theater' mode or 5.1/etc.

For example, Black Ops has a TV, Theater, Headphone modes. Only Theater mode works properly with these amps. you must remember that something like the Mixamp is taking a 5.1 signal and converting it. If you use anything other than Dolby Digital 5.1, the Mixamp/AX720 amp, etc, won't process the signal properly. Make sure the 360 is set to Dolby Digital.

Just wanna mention that next time I update the list, I'm gonna sort everything through an alpha list (through company name first, then headphone model), for a much easier method of finding a specific headphone. I honestly don't think my list is huge to begin with, but I guess any little bet of making it easier for you guys is enough for me to wanna do it.Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 6/10/12 at 8:35am

-Ultrasone Pro 2900 added (thanks calpis!)
-sorted the listing as an alpha list. Brand name first, model second. Example: Beyerdynamic is before Denon. In the list of Beyers, the DT770 will be first because it's a lower number than the DT880 and DT990
-removed the headset section
-moved the headsets to the regular list, and added '*headset*' to the listings that are headsets. To find them easily, just hit Ctrl +F (or click on 'Edit', followed by 'Find' on your window bar) and type in *headset*
-added '*clip-on*' to the listings that are clip-ons for an easier search of those types of headphones

Pro 2900

Surprise Review!

I can't thank calpis enough for selflessly sending me his pair of Pro 2900 to review and compare. So all of you Pro 2900 owners, or those who were curious about them, thank calpis! I owe it to him to be a little more thorough in my impressions.

Okay, I've spent the last few days abusing my ears with almost nothing but Pro 2900 audio, so if anything, I can say I'm quite acquainted with them for the purpose of gaming. I was able to test them with a variety of game, including Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops, which are my go-to games for positional audio. Let me start with the build. Man, these are built like absolute tanks. Like seriously, it's plastic, but it's the strongest plastic I have ever felt on a headphone. The only other headphone that felt like an absolute tank was the M50, and these have those beat in just how ridiculously well built they are. You'd have to be a moron to break these. Now the sound for gaming. Just great.

Let me break down the specific aspects of it's sound.

Tone: They are bright. The Q701 sounds like a warm monster next to them. They are VERY aggressive sounding headphone. The PRAT factor is incredibly high here. They are super quick, with tons of bite. This is NOT a headphone to relax and chill to. This is a headphone to jam out to. They are also very revealing, and dry sounding. The sound doesn't have the rich body of the Q701 or the D7000. The Pro 2900 is weird in that while it's notably a v-shaped sounding headphone, it is quite analytical. The speed of the bass is so quick and unobtrusive, the recessed mids come out highly detailed (but quite distant). The emphasized treble just bring a very clear sound. If I could compare the Pro 2900 to anything, it'd be the DT880 and HE-4. The DT880 and HE-4 however had a warmer tone, richer body, and slower, more present bass making them more fun, personally.

Bass: These are supposed to have the same drivers as the mid bass monster known as the Pro 900, right? Well, they didn't sound like that to me. They initially started out somewhat bass light. The Q701 had more bass presence. HOWEVER, I dunno when it happened, but that changed. The bass on these? AMAZING quality. Literally the most articulated bass I have ever heard. I'm not talking quantity. I'm talking about how incredibly textured and quick the bass is. Something about how the bass notes hit that just blew me the hell away. You know how some headphones tend to have a one note type of bass that doesn't exactly sound realistic? Well, the Pro 2900 just presents bass in so many layers, I can't help but feel in awe. That being said, it's not particularly emphasized or strong, but they are definitely more present than the Q701. I'd put them on a DT880 level of bass presence. I like a bit more bass emphasis from fun cans like the DT990, HE-4, and D7000, but these are pretty on par with the DT880s in terms of quantity. Quality definitely surpasses the DT880 (which is slower) which was probably the second bass in bass quality for me. Seriously though, give them a very bass emphasized song, and you will be absolutely blown away by that masterful quality. Just don't expect them to immediately please you if you like some form of emphasized bass. The bass is there when a song absolutely calls for it, so I'd say it's the most natural aspect of the Pro 2900's sound.

Mids: This is their DEFINITE weak point. It's noticeably recessed compared to the treble. It falls shortly behind the bass, and quite a bit compared to the treble. Male vocals sound a little unnatural, but female vocals (due to mids going up to the treble) sounded quite unnatural. The Pro 2900 will not be one for female vocals, especially those who tend to bring out sibilance. They will murder your ears with the Pro 2900. On certain songs like 'Kaskade ft. Skylar Grey - Room For Happiness (Fire)', Skylar's voice was very metallic and unnatural sounding. When put next to the Q701... the recessed mids were staggeringly obvious.

Treble: The main actor in this show called the Pro 2900. The treble is prominent. I can't compare directly with the DT990, but it's up there. Not as ear destroying as the DT990, but it has no reservations about them being treble heavy. I'm guaranteeing this would be the deal breaker for a lot of people. That being said, while the treble while is prominent, it wasn't grainy. It was a very high quality treble. The DT880 and DT990's treble were grainier. The treble can be fatiguing, so take note if you like smoother treble.

Soundstage: I won't mention soundstage for music as I'm not too focused on it when I'm not gaming in virtual surround. For gaming, I felt the Pro 2900's soundstage wasn't exactly 'open'. It did spread out pretty far to the extreme left and right, but depth wasn't amazing. It felt like a cross between a closed headphone, and an open one. Considering the Pro 2900's are open, i was left a little disappointed in their soundstage. It wasn't airy like an open can. Felt like a closed can with a big soundstage.

Positioning: Okay, this is where they are indeed quite excellent. They are great at directionality. No complaints. Not the very best, but they won't bring any issues for gamers using Dolby Headphone. A solid performer, can't say anything negative here. GREAT. I had a 40-0 game on MW2 and a 32-0 game on Black Ops with these, so they are quite capable, I'd say.

Clarity for gaming: As stated before, they are actually revealing and analytical despite their v shaped sound. For GAMING, think of the Pro 2900 as a less bassy DT990 in terms of clarity.

Comfort: Ah yes, I was skeptical about them, because I've heard several complaints about them, especially the padding on the headband. Perhaps I was desensitized by wearing the K701 and Q701 for so long, but the Pro 2900's padding was quite literally the same as the PC360's headband padding which are non-issues whatsoever. The ear pads feel very similar to the Q701s. Lovely velour that is neither too soft, nor too firm. They were just fine, and cause no discomfort for me. As for clamp, yes, these have a mild clamp, so those who don't like clamp may be irked by it. I actually prefer it, because they stay in place. It's better than any of the Sennheisers I've used in this regard. The headband extension is great, and sturdy. Big heads shouldn't have a problem with the size.

Fun: 8 (The Mixamp pairs up quite well with the Pro 2900, and the bass was satisfying, but not overly powerful. When the bass hit hard, that quality of the Pro 2900's bass really shined.)
Competitive: 8 (Directionality was great. Soundstage could've been bigger, but it was great overall. Pro 2900 owners shouldn't have any issues kicking ass at least when it comes to using these as their main headphone).
Comfort: 7.5

Value: My biggest issue with the Pro 2900 is the price. It costs as much as the HE-4, and I honestly feel it competes more with the DT880/Q701 price range. The HE-4 is superior to me as a whole. The good thing about the Pro 2900 is that it easy fairly easy to drive and sounds great off the Mixamp. The HE-4 is most certainly the absolute opposite. The Pro 2900 sounds mid-fi to me, and not a bridge between mid-fi and hi-fi that the price seems to suggest. If these were price around $250-300, it'd be some serious competition to the popular Beyers and AKGs. As it stands, it's not good enough to warrant purchase over the Beyers, though if you happen to own them, they won't let you down.

Again, many, MANY thanks to calpis for sending them to me. You have my deepest gratitude.

I'm not implying anything negative at all, the face is more for me, its just that I haven't seen that guide yet (and that was exactly what I was looking for) and he quoted that it was the most immersive gaming experience he's ever had with the headphone. So I am kind of confused right now, but because of that review I think I might have to pick up both headphones and compare.

I'll most likely go with the Q701 because of his super-in-depth comparison review along the the 5.8s bass boost, but If that dosn't satisfy me, the Beyerdynamics should.

The Q701 isn't as immediately fun as the DT990 due to a weaker bass, but they do a lot of things better, like clarity, tone, soundstage, positioning. I just prefer the DT990s for music and fun gaming due to that full on bass and overall energy.

So you do take in headphones for review after all...maybe if I get a second Stax SR-Lambda set in the future, I'll let you audition the other one for a review, provided that you have a speaker amp to drive the included energizer and an adapter cable to connect the Mixamp output to the speaker amp. Seriously, you have to try these.

Once again, I'm tempted to sample some Ultrasones to see what the S-Logic hype and directionality is all about, but the recessed mids are very much a concern for me. I've found myself preferring headphones that don't let vocals drown in the music, so to speak. Then there's the pricing...at $450 for a Pro 2900, I'd rather save up a bit more and get more vintage Stax.

@MLE: I agree with your thoughts on the PRO2900's. I had them for a long time and thought they were good, but they always left me wanting more. That said, I don't feel I've gotten anything 'more' for gaming with my HE-500's. Don't get me wrong- the HE-500 is an amazing headphone, but it's probably not the best for gaming purposes. What I've done is trade soundstage for a smoother frequency response.

Anyway, I've been feeling the upgrade itch, and was kind of hoping the Beyerdynamic T90 would satisfy my gaming needs. Is there any chance that you'll be able to hear one when they are released?

Tone: They are bright. The Q701 sounds like a warm monster next to them. They are VERY aggressive sounding headphone.

Bass: The bass on these? AMAZING quality. Literally the most articulated bass I have ever heard. I'm not talking quantity. I'm talking about how incredibly textured and quick the bass is.

Mids: This is their DEFINITE weak point. It's noticeably recessed compared to the treble. It falls shortly behind the bass, and quite a bit compared to the treble....Skylar's voice was very metallic and unnatural sounding. When put next to the Q701... the recessed mids were staggeringly obvious.

Treble: The main actor in this show called the Pro 2900. The treble is prominent. I can't compare directly with the DT990, but it's up there. I'm guaranteeing this would be the deal breaker for a lot of people. The treble can be fatiguing, so take note if you like smoother treble.

Soundstage: For gaming, I felt the Pro 2900's soundstage wasn't exactly 'open'. It did spread out pretty far to the extreme left and right, but depth wasn't amazing. It felt like a cross between a closed headphone, and an open one. Considering the Pro 2900's are open, i was left a little disappointed in their soundstage. It wasn't airy like an open can. Felt like a closed can with a big soundstage.

Positioning: Okay, this is where they are indeed quite excellent. They are great at directionality. No complaints. Not the very best, but they won't bring any issues for gamers using Dolby Headphone. A solid performer, can't say anything negative here.

Clarity for gaming: As stated before, they are actually revealing and analytical despite their v shaped sound. For GAMING, think of the Pro 2900 as a less bassy DT990 in terms of clarity.

Fun: 8
Competitive: 8
Comfort: 7.5

The Pro 2900 sounds mid-fi to me, and not a bridge between mid-fi and hi-fi that the price seems to suggest. If these were price around $250-300, it'd be some serious competition to the popular Beyers and AKGs. As it stands, it's not good enough to warrant purchase over the Beyers, though if you happen to own them, they won't let you down.

Thanks for the Ultrasone Review MLE!

I've been curious about Ultrasones for a while. They seem to be very polarizing, and everyone seems to either love or hate them. Nice to see impressions that lie in-between that spectrum.

I already had the notion that the Pro 2900 had LOTS of treble, and it's nice to get a confirmation on that. I knew I probably wouldn't like the 2900, even before I read your impressions. But now, it's safe to say the 2900 would be too "V" shaped for me.

I think the only Ultrasone I'd consider is the HFI 2400. It's the top of the HFI line, and also the only open HFI model (also has velours). It's been said that they are warmer than the Pro 2900 and some other Ultrasones as well. I've still read mixed impressions about its mids. The Q701 has spoiled me, and I don't think I could live with recessed mids now. If Q701s are the most natural sounding headphone I've heard (and they are), I bet I'd find most Ultrasones models unnatural sounding. I think the 2900 is supposed to have a larger soundstage then the HFI 2400. If the 2900 soundstage is only medium-to-large sized and falling behind other open cans, that doesn't bode well for the HFI 2400.

MLE, do you have any new opinions on "S-logic" now? Good, Bad, or OK for gaming? Or not even that noticeable? (I have a feeling it would come more into play with plain stereo, but I'm not sure...)

Oh, one more thing, how deep are the cups? They look really shallow in pics, but are they any deeper than say, Beyers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PceLuvnSloMo

Oops, gave the wrong message there.

I'm not implying anything negative at all, the face is more for me, its just that I haven't seen that guide yet (and that was exactly what I was looking for) and he quoted that it was the most immersive gaming experience he's ever had with the headphone. So I am kind of confused right now, but because of that review I think I might have to pick up both headphones and compare.

I'll most likely go with the Q701 because of his super-in-depth comparison review along the the 5.8s bass boost, but If that dosn't satisfy me, the Beyerdynamics should.

Oh OK. I hope I didn't fill your brain with F*$%.

I may come across a little biased in that comparison, but that's just because I prefer the Q701. The DT990 is still a nice headphone. I personally just couldn't handle its treble and mids.

I would say the Q701 is the safer choice, but it's always best to get both and compare for yourself. Otherwise you get that nagging curiousity about how the other sounds. Nah'mean?

What made the Q701s immersive for me, was their combination of soundstage along with a thick punchy sound. Up until them I'd always thought you had to either choose between either a headphone with a large open soundstage but with a thin weak bass-light sound, or thick punchy headphone but with a smaller closed soundstage. From the heapdhones I've tried, the Q701 strike the best balance between the two, having a large open soundstage along with some nice body and punch to the sound, with just the right amount of warmth.

I also just really like their signature and balance, and they sound very natural to me. When they sound natural, it makes it less obvious that I'm wearing headphones and they can disappear more > immersion.

So I ordered a pair of JVC HARX700 recently as I've heard they're nice and comfortable for their price. Looking forward to tossing them in the ring of gaming and seeing how they turn out. Should be here Tuesday if the tracking is accurate.